NICARAGUA – October 23 marked the second-last set of interviews in Nicaragua for ten vicars (candidates for pastoral ministry) and 17 deaconess-candidates, in the lead-up to their ordinations and consecrations for full-time ministry.
Each student was examined individually by Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) and Lutheran Church Synod of Nicaragua (ILSN) leaders. The interview questions focused on areas of academic knowledge including understanding of the pastoral ministry and diaconal work, the Lutheran liturgy, preaching and teaching, stewardship, and mission work, among other subjects.
Throughout December and early January, the final set of interviews will …

Deaconess Cheryl D. Naumann presents a rich and insightful look at the deaconess vocation and its blessing to the LCMS. Using primary documents, personal recollections, and interviews, In the Footsteps of Phoebe fills a significant gap in the annals of synodical history. Collected in this one volume is a record of events as well as the thoughts and actions of deaconesses during every era of the Synod’s history. We offer this excerpt from In the Footsteps of Phoebe as the Church commemorates Dorcas, Lydia, and Phoebe.
THE LUTHERAN DEACONESS
January 1924 saw the first issue of The Lutheran Deaconess: Official Organ of the Lutheran Deaconess Association within the Ev. Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America (TLD). Concordia Publishing House
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by Iris Barta
As God’s people, God chooses to work through us in the world and in the Church. His Word says: “Now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul?” (Deuteronomy 10:12).
The word “serve” often has negative connotations. It is not our human nature to serve others. It has the implication of someone else being our master, …

A great establishment has been fulfilled. We are now running a Day Care Centre, here at Lutheran Theological Seminary in Tshwane (Pretoria, South Africa). It was the Bishop’s vision that we should have one, and together with Karin & the … Continue reading →. . . Read All

ONLINE – Lutheran Church–Canada is pleased to announce that the essays from the 2014 National Convention are now available for download.
Rev. Kurt Reinhardt’s presentation—”As Dear Children Ask Their Dear Father”—focused on prayer. The two-part essay is available for download now as a pdf. Rev. Reinhardt’s presentation was accompanied by two hymns written specially for the occasion. The first of these—As Dear Children of the Father—is now available for download. (Check back later for the second hymn).
Deacon Jennifer Shack’s presentation—”The History and Biblical Foundation of Lutheran Church–Canada’s Diaconate—is also now available …

by Jennifer Shack
In 1999 Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) established something that we call the “office of deacon.” There was a lot of study and thought that went into its establishment and no doubt it was a topic that both pastors and lay-people in our districts had at least heard of during the 1993–1999 convention cycles. Though the topic of the diaconate has been present in some way in each convention since then, what we have not done is continue to educate and inform ourselves of what the deacons of our church …

Dear friends of the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Tshwane: That’s a photo of morning breaking over the LTS. Thanks be to God LTS in Tshwane has restarted the new academic year and we have a lot to be thankful for. … Continue reading →. . . Read All

A student at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind., Caitlin Worden, a 24-year-old from Watervliet, Mich., began serving as a deaconess intern — a Globally Engaged in Outreach (GEO) missionary for the LCMS — in Lima, Peru, in 2013. She has committed to two years of service. She works at a community center called Casa […]
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NICARAGUA – On January 25, the Lutheran Church Synod of Nicaragua (ILSN) celebrated the graduation of 29 new church workers from the Seminario Teologico Reforma Luterana in Chinendega. In total, 17 deaconesses and 12 pastoral students received their diplomas.
The deaconesses will now begin a one-year apprenticeship teaching with the ILSN’s Children’s Education Program. The pastoral students will enter their one-year vicarage, following which they will be ordained and receive their first calls.
“It is with great joy we celebrate the graduation of these new church workers in Central America,” said Rev. …

A deaconess is a servant of Christ and the Church. In whatever capacity is needed, a deaconess exemplifies the heart of mercy, caring for people in need and reaching out to them with God’s Word of life.
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